Battery container

ABSTRACT

A battery has a container consisting of an upper portion and a lower portion sealed together in any convenient manner. The cover may be separate from, or integrally constructed with, the upper portion of the container. Single cell or multicell as well as primary or secondary batteries may be so constructed. In multicell batteries the intercell strap connectors extend through the partitions of the cell compartments, preferably as molded inserts in the partitions. Preferably the ends of the intercell strap connectors are anchored by the container. Strap connectors may extend from end cells through the container as inserts molded therein to function as terminals.

United States Patent [191 Port [4 1 Feb. 12, 1974 1 BATTERY CONTAINER[75] Inventor: Frederick .1. Port, West Chester, Pa.

[73] Assignee: ESB Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 341,969

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 871,207, Oct. 17,1969, Pat. No. 3,746,579, which is a division of Ser. No. 726,068, May2, 1968, Pat. No. 3,519,489.

[52] US. Cl. 136/134 R, 136/166 [51] Int. Cl. HOlni l/02 [58] Field ofSearch 136/134 R, 166

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 790,025 H1958Great Britain 136/166 Primary Examiner-Donald L. Walton Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Raymond L. Balfour 5 7 ABSTRACT A battery has a containerconsisting of an upper portion and a lower portion sealed together inany convenient manner. The cover may be separate from, or integrallyconstructed with, the upper portion of the container. Single cell ormulticell as well as primary or secondary batteries may be soconstructed.

In multicell batteries the intercell strap connectors extend through thepartitions of the cell compartments, preferably as molded inserts in thepartitions. Preferably the ends of the intercell strap connectors areanchored by the container. Strap connectors may extend from end cellsthrough the container as inserts molded therein to function asterminals.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 BATTERY CONTAINER CROSS REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of co-pending Ser.No. 871,207 filed Oct. 17, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,746,579, which inturn was a division of Ser. No. 726,068 filed May 2, 1968 (now US. Pat.No. 3,519,489).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION their thin, flat, plate-like configuration.Where the electrodes are to be placed closely together it is customaryto include insulating separators between adjacent electrodes ascomponents in the stack to prevent adjacent electrodes from dischargingagainst each other, but if the electrodes are to be spaced far apart orif some other means to prevent self-discharge can be devised then theseseparators are not essential components of the stack. Separators arecommon components of the stacks used in automotive batteries. The termstack does not include the straps which are subsequently added toconnect the electrodes of like polarity together mechanically andelectrically. After the positive electrodes have been electricallyconnected together by a positive electrode connecting strap and thenegative electrodes have been electrically connected together by anegative electrode connecting strap the word element" is applied to thecombination of stack and connecting straps. In multicell batteries theseelements are electrically connected together in series. There aretherefore essentially two problems involved: first, strap connectorshave to be added to stacks to create elements and second, the elementshave to be electrically connected in series.

There are essentially two alternatives by which strap connectors can beapplied to the stacks. In the first the stacks are placed in thecontainer and the strap connectors applied there. With this alternativethe container serves as a fixture or jig which holds the stack togetherwhile the strap connectors are added. The advantage of this approach isthat no separate fixture is required but, where heat is applied to jointhe strap connectors to the electrodes, the disadvantages include thedifficulty in confining the molten metal as well as the possibility thatthe heat might damage the container or separators. The secondalternative, which overcomes the disadvantages of the first, is to addthe strap connectors to the stacks outside the container in an elementassembly machine and then place the resulting elements in the individualcell compartments of the container. The disadvantages of the secondalternative are that the element assembly machines involved areexpensive, and the two steps of placing the stacks into the machines andremoving the elements from them are in addition to the necessarysubsequent step of placing the elements in cell compartments of thecontainers; except that they permit the connecting straps to be added tothe stacks while easily confining the molten metal and without damage tothe container, these two steps are 5 essentially unnecessary, forotherwise they contribute nothing to the final product. Use of theelement assembly machines is customary throughout the automotive batteryindustry in the United States today.

The second problem involves the fact that the elements must be connectedtogether in series. Until recent years the strap connectors of anelement in one cell compartment did not extend over or through thepartition toconnect with the element in the adjacent cell compartmentand this was true regardless of 5 whether the strap connectors wereapplied to the stacks inside or outside of the container. Thus is wasnecessary to devise some way of constructing intercell connectors insidethe container after the elements had been placed in the cellcompartments. Several such methods are shown in the following recentlyissued US. Patents: 3,275,793; 3,313,658; and 3,336,164. Regardless ofhow this work was done, there were several problems which wereinherently involved. For one, the construction of the intercellconnectors was a separate step necessarily following the construction ofthe strap connectors. Also there was a possibility of a poor electricalconnection between components of the intercell connectors or between theintercell connector and the strap connectors. Finally there was thepossiblity that electrolyte might leak between the cells through thehole or slot in the partition which was necessarily involved and thatdischarge of one cell against another might subsequently result.

In recent years techniques have been devised by which to combine thesolutions of these two problems. In general, these techniques show thepositive electrode strap connector for electrodes in the element in onecell compartment extending through or over the partition to serve as thenegative electrode strap connector in the element in the adjacent cellcompartment. This extending strap connector thus served an additionalfunction, that of an intercell connector, and therefore might bereferred to with the descriptive phrase intercell strap connector. Justas the strap connector for elements in individual cell compartmentscould be applied outside or inside the container, so also can theintercell strap connectors. Both methods of constructing intercell strapconnectors are illustrated in recently issued US. patents. In US. Pat.No. 3,350,237 the stacks are first placed in the container andsubsequently the intercell strap connector is added. The protection ofthe container from damage by the heat used to construct the intercellstrap connector is one of the problems with which this patent isconcerned. In US. Pat. Nos. 3,253,962 and 3,309,232 the intercell strapconnectors are applied outside the container and an assembly of sixelectrically connected elements is subsequently dropped into thecontainer. With either of these two construction methods a necessarycondition is that there be a slot in either the partition or the coverinto which the intercell strap connector may be fitted. One of theearliest constructions in which a slot was provided in the partition toreceive the intercell strap connector is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,828,349(that patent does not expressly state whether the intercell strapconnector is applied to the stacks inside or outside the container).When the intercell strap connector is fitted into a partition slot theremaining unfilled portion must be filled to prevent intercell leakageof electrolyte either by the use of some kind of insert (see U.S. Pat.3,253,962) or by a portion of the cover which projects downward to fillthe slot (see-U.S. Pat. No. 3,309,232). Insertion of a separate insertis avoided where the slot is in the cover (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,350,237)but in all three patents a separate cementing step is required where theintercell strap connector extends through the partition. In addition torequiring a separate step and equipment to perform it, this cementingincreases the risk of unsatisfactory construction. The use of theseintercell strap connectors has two primary advantages; the separate steprequired to construct intercell connectors after strap connectors areconstructed is eliminated, and the resulting intercell strap connectorusually goes through the partition in a straight path rather thanjogging upward in the shape of an inverted U. This latter advantageresults in a minimum electrical path or internal resistance and alsoproduces a savings in materials. A disadvantage in the use of theseintercell strap connectors is that there is always a slot in thepartition or cover which must be filled, requiring extra effort andcare. Where the intercell strap connectors are applied to the stacksoutside the containers there still is the requirement of expensivemachinery which holds the stacks together and constructs the intercellstrap connectors, along with the two steps of placing stacks into thosemachines and removing elements from them before the elements are placedinto the container.

Finally, British Patent specification 988,423 describes two alternativeconstructions which should be reviewed briefly. In the preferredconstruction the stacks are first placed into cell compartments, thelugs 'through slots in the partition, and are connected to theelectrodes. The preferred embodiment is thus remindful of US. Pat. No.3,350,237. As an alternative to the preferred construction, BritishPatent 988,423 states that the intercell strap connectors may beintegrally molded with the partitions, a construction which requiresthat the electrode width be less than the width of the interior of thecontainer so that the electrodes may be inserted between the intercellstrap connectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This summary will describe the invention as itconcerns multicell storage batteriesuntil otherwise indicated.

With this invention the container is constructed in two portions, anupper portion and a lower portion, and the intercell strap connectorsextend through the partitions of the upper portion of the container. Itis highly desirable that the intercell strap connectors be insertsaround which the partitions in the upper portion of the container aremolded.

A number of advantages result from having the container constructed intwo portions and from having the intercell strap connectors extendthrough the partitions of the upper portion of the container. First, thetwo previously separate steps connection of straps to the plates instacks and the subsequent construction of an intercell connector joiningconnecting straps of unlike polarity in adjacent cells are combined intoa single step, and the equipment previously needed to construct separateintercell connectors is thus eliminated. Second, one portion eitherportion of the container may serve as a fixture orjig for the stackuntil and while the strap connectors are connected to the plates in thestack, thus eliminating the need for the expensive element assemblymachines which have served this function in prior construction. Third,the two previous steps of placing stacks in an element assembly machineand subsequently removing them, both of which were performed before theelements were placed in the container, are entirely eliminated. Fourth,the step of cementing a partition or cover slot, which step waspreviously required where intercell strap connectors extended throughslots in the partitions of the container or cover (see U.S. Pat. Nos.3,253,962; 3,309,232; and 3,350,237) is completely eliminated if theintercell strap connector is molded as an insert in the partition of theupper portion of the container, as is the attendant hazard that thefiller piece might not produce a liquid-tight seal in the slot. Fifth,the intercell strap connectors may extend in a straight line through thepartitions in the upper portions of the container (such as is shown inU.S. Pats. Nos. 3,253,962; 3,309,232; and 3,350,237) rather than joggingupward in the shape of an inverted U (such as is shown in U.S. Pats.Nos. 3,275,793; 3,313,658; and 3,336,164), resulting in a minimuminternal electrical resistance and reducing the quantity of materialsrequired to a minimum. Finally, rather than having a single piececontainer which requires the stack to be inserted into the containerfrom above the molded insert intercell strap connector as does BritishPatent 988,423,-this invention permits the stack to be inserted into theupper portion of the container from below the molded insert intercellstrap connector; with this invention the molded insert intercell strapconnectors need not be placed at the ends of the cell compartments andthe electrodes may be nearly as wide as the cell compartment is long.

If the intercell strap connectors are inserts around the middle of whichthe partitions are molded, the ends of the intercell strap connectorsmay also be molded into other partitions so that the ends of theintercell strap connectors are anchored by the container. Thus anchored,the intercell strap connectors increase the vibration resistance of thefinal product.

The intercell strap connectors also serve as stiffeners along the lengthof the battery, increasing the rigidity of the battery. This feature isespecially useful when the cell compartments are vacuum filled withelectrolyte, for the vacuum tends to collapse the container and preventfilling. This is particularly true if the container is made from suchflexible materials as polypropylene, where economical and thin sectionsmay be produced with sufficient-strength to withstand normal batteryusage but which may tend to collapse easily when being vacuum filled.

The cover may be separate from, or integrally constructed with, theupper portion of the container. Where the cover is integrallyconstructed with the upper portion of the container, access must beprovided so that the strap connectors may be connected to the electrodesin the stacks.

The end cell strap connectors may be molded through the exterior wall ofthe container to function as terminals for the battery. In prior methodsof construction the terminal posts were either integrally molded with astrap connector or subsequently added to the strap connector, but ineither event the terminal then had to be extended to the exterior of thecover or the container; that step is eliminated by this feature of theinvention, as is the need for equipment to perform the step. Theinternal electrical resistance and the quantity of materials requiredare also minimized. If the cover is integrally constructed with theupper portion of the container, a terminal integrally constructed with astrap connector in each end cell may extend upward and be molded intothe cover, again eliminating the previous separate step of extending theterminal to the exterior of the cover.

Another advantageous feature of this invention is that the ratio ofheight to .width, known as depth of draw in the molding trade, of thecell compartments in the two portions of the container is reducedcompared with a single piece container. This ratio of height to width isone of the criteria which determines molding difficulty; the cost ofmolds, percentage scrap, and other important economic penalties all risequickly as the depth of draw increases.

While the discussion above relates to multicell batteries, most of it isalso applicable to single cell batteries except that in that case thestrap connectors used are not of the intercell type but are like the endcell strap connectors used in multicell batteries. Although thediscussion thus far has concerned automotive batteries which arerechargeable (secondary or storage), the invention is equally applicableto non-rechargeable (primary) batteries.

Regardless of whether the methods of this invention are used withmulticell or single cell batteries, certain features apply. Although theupper and lower portions of the container must ultimately be sealedtogether, the invention is essentially independent of specific sealingtechniques, specific materials for the container and cover, and thelocation of the joint bettween the upper and lower portion of thecontainer. Any technique which provides a satisfactory seal between thetwo portions of the container, and between the container and the coverif the cover is separately constructed, may be used; such specifictechniques as sealing with heat, resin cements, and ultrasonics, to namea few, might be used. Likewise themethod of this invention isindependent of specific materials used to construct the container andcover; materials may be selected on the basis of cost of raw materials,ease of molding, ease of sealing, and other factors, and the twoportions of the container may be of different materials if that isadvantageous. Both thermoplastic and thermosetting materials may beused. (It is recognized that sealing techniques are not completelyindependent of the materials to be sealed, and that when one of thesevariables is fixed the alternatives left to the other may becomerestricted. For instance, if polyethylenes or polypropylenes are used,heat sealing would probably be the preferred sealing technique. Withpolystyrene or styrene acrylonitrile, ultrasonics would probably beselected for sealing, while the use of cements would probably providethe best sealing for polyvinylchloride, or acrylonitrile butadienestyrene. The point to be made, however, is

that while the choice of materials to be sealed is interrelated with thechoice of sealing techniques, this invention is not limited to eitherspecific materials or spe' cific sealing techniques or combinationsthereof.) While it may be desirable from the point of view of sealingthe upper and lower portions of the container together to have the jointbetween them located near the top or bottom of the stacks, the method isessen tially independent of the location of the joint. The method ofthis invention does require a liquid-tight seal between the two portionsof the container. The method is also essentially independent of thetechnique used to connect the electrodes with the connecting straps; inaddition to burning which is presently conventional in the automotivebattery industry, such other techniques as bolting, crimping, orinduction welding, to name several, might be used. Where heat is used,caution must be observed so that the molten metal which joins the strapconnectors and electrodes does not flow errantly onto the electrodes orseparators. Also, some care may be necessary so that the container isnot damaged while the electrodes in the stacks are being joined to thestrap connectors, but this problem can be solved by the use oftechniques such as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,350,237 and BritishPatent 988,423 (slotted heat protectors are placed over the lugs of theelectrodes) or by other methods.

Another advantage of the method is that, to some extent, the steps inthe method may be performed in many different sequences. For instance,where the two portions of the container must be sealed together, theelectrodes connected to the strap connectors, a cover applied, andterminals added, these steps may be performed in many differentsequences, some of which may be preferred to others. Such a degree offreedom is important when laying out manufacturing plants.

While not an essential part of this invention, the battery may beimproved by including slots in the strap connectors to receive the lugsfrom the electrodes. Since it is common in the automotive batteryindustry to include one more negative electrode than positive electrodein each stack, each intercell strap connector could have, for instance,six slots in its positive end and seven slots in its negative end, thusassuring an anti-cell reversal feature which would prevent a stack frombeing placed into a cell compartment backwards. In previousconstructions additional metal and/or additional container material wasrequired to obtain an anti-cell reversal feature in individual cellcompartments, but here this advantage is achieved merely by the use ofdifferent numbers of slots in the two ends of the intercell strapconnectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS exterior of the cover. A stack forinsertion into one ofthe cell compartments of the container is alsoshown.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a coverless container showing fiveintercell strap connectors and two end cell strap connectors in a sixcell battery.

FIG. 3 is an oblique view showing the cover integrally constructed withthe upper portion of the container. A fragment of the cover has beenremoved to show the intercell strap connector extending through thepartition- FIG. 4 is a horizontal view of part of the upper portion ofthe container. The figure shows one method of anchoring the ends of theintercell strap connectors by the. container. I

a FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but shows a different method of anchoringthe ends ofthe intercell strap connectors by the container.

FIG. 6 is a top view of part of the upper portion of the containershowing an end cell strap connector extending through the end of thecontainer to function as a terminal.

FIG. 7 is a top view of part of the upper portion of the container. Theends of the intercell strap connectors are-anchored as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 showsa channel molded around the strap connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments ofthe invention will first be discussed as they concern a multicellbattery, and subsequently a single cell battery which embodies theinvention will be described.

Discussion of multicell batteries may begin by referringto theconstruction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with subsequent figures showingalternative constructions. As shown in FIG. I, the container is dividedinto an upper portion 10 and a lower portion 12, each portion havingpartitions 14 which divide its interior space into cell compartments l6.Into each cell compartment 16 is placed a stack 18 including alternatelyspaced positive electrodes 20 and negative electrodes 22. The stackshown in' FIG. 1 also includes separators 24 between adjacentelectrodes. The stack 18 shown in FIG. 1 is typical of many of thosepresently used in automotive batteries, having 7 negative electrodes and6 positives. Each electrode is conveniently provided with a pair of feet25 which are supported by rests 26 in the lower portion of thecontainer. The stacks may be placed initially into either portion of thecontainer. FIG. 1 also shows a cover 27 separately constructed from thecontainer. The drawings show electrodes typical of those presently usedin automotive batteries, and so the electrodes appear as flat, thin,rectangular, platelike objects; these characteristics are not essentialrequirements of the electrodes, however, either in automotive batteriesor in batteries for other purposes, and the electrodes with which thisinvention is concerned could also be round, thick, or tubular inconfiguration. The electrodes likewise do not require feet 25, thesebeing shown only because they are conventional in automotive batteries.

As FIGS. I and 2 show, the battery also has two types of strapconnectors to which the electrodes in the stacks are connected. Thefirst is an intercell strap connector 28 which extends through thepartitions 14 of the upper portion 10 of the container and has apositive end 30 in one cell compartment 16 and a negative end 32 in theadjacent cell compartment. Preferably the intercell strap connectors 28are inserts around which the partitions 14 are molded; alternatively,the intercell strap connectors could be dropped into slots in thepartitions and the slots subsequently sealed shut, but at the expense ofadditional steps and possibly less reliable results. The other typeofstrap connector, to be referred to as an end cell strap connector34,occurs only in the two end cell compartments; in one end cellcompartments the strap connector 34 is connected to the positiveelectrodes in the stack in that compartment, while the strap connector34 in the other cell compartment is connected to the negativeelectrodes.

FIGS. 1 and 2 also show positive and negative terminal risers 36 and 38respectively projecting upward from a strap connector in each of the endcells. The terminal risers, which may be castintegrally with the strapconnectors or subsequently added to them, extend to the exterior of thecover and may pass through and possibly be joined with appropriateinserts or bushings 40 situated in the cover.- The cover also has ventplug openings 41. The terminals 36 and 38 are shown in the drawings asround, cylindrical, post-like objects. This invention is in no wayconfined to specific sizes or shapes of terminals.

From the description given thus far, the steps in the construction ofthe battery shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be easily understood. Briefly,the steps are: placing stacks including alternately spaced positive andnegative electrodes in each cell compartment of one portion of thecontainer; sealing the two portions of the container together;connecting the positive electrodes of the stack in one cell compartmentto one end of one intercell strap connector; connecting the negativeelectrodes of the stack in the adjacent cell compartment to the otherend of that intercell strap connector; repeating these last two stepsuntil both ends of all intercell strap connectors are connected toelectrodes; connecting the positive electrodes of the stack in one endcell compartment to an end cell strap connector in that compartment;connecting the negative electrodes of the stack in the other end cellcompartment to an end cell strap connector in that compartment; sealinga cover onto the container; extending a terminal from the positive endcell strap connector in one end cell compartment to the exterior of thecover; and extending a second terminal from'the negative end cell strapconnector in the other end cell compartment to the exterior of thecover. The steps need not be performed in the exact sequence juststated.

As an alternative to the method just described, the terminals might beextended to the exterior of the container rather than to the exterior ofthe cover. An obvious combination of these two alternatives, also withinthe invention, is to extend one terminal to the exterior of the coverand to extend the other terminal to the exterior of the container.

Another variation of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, where thecover is'shown integrally constructed with the upper portion of thecontainer. (In such an instance the distinction or dividing line betweenthe cover and the upper portion of the container becomes difficult todefine. For convenience, the object will be referred to simply as theupper portion of the container. Regardless of the terminology usedto'described this object, it has sufficient depth to have sections ofthe partitions, and the intercell strap connectors extend through thosepartitions as can be seen in FIG. 3 where a fragment of this object hasbeen removed.) Since the electrodes cannot be connected to the strapconnectors until the upper portion of the container is applied,

some means must be provided to permit access to the electrodes andstraps afterward. For this purpose the top surface of the upper portionof the container is shown being provided .with a pair of portals 42which may be closed or sealed after the electrodes and connector strapsare connected. The construction steps with this alternative method aremuch the same as in the earlier method, except that a separate cover isnot sealed onto the container and the terminals may be described simplyas extending to the exterior of the container rather than specificallyextending to theexterior of the upper portion of the container or thecover.

As another alternative construction, the upper portion of the containershown in FIG. 1 may be modified by having the end cell strap connectorsextend from the end cell compartments to the exterior of the container.This could be done easily by lengthening the strap connector and moldingthe outside container wall around it. As a related but still differentalternative, where the combined cover and upper portion of the containershown in FIG. 3, is used, a strap connector may extend to any desiredpoint on the exterior of the upper portion of the container, again bymolding the container around the extended strap connector. The advantageof these two alternatives is that the extensions of the strap connectorsserve as terminals thus eliminating any subsequent construction stepsneeded to obtain terminals and also possibly reducing internalelectrical resistance and saving materials by reducing the length of theterminals.

Other aspects of this invention should also be described as they relateto multicell batteries. The vibration resistance of the battery may beimproved by having the upper portion of the container anchor the ends ofeach strap connector. This is particularly easy to achieve when theintercell strap connectors are molded insertions in the partitions, forthe partitions may also be molded so as to anchor the ends of theintercell strap connectors, such as by the projections 44 shown in FIG.4 or by the recession 46 shown in FIG. 5. The end or ends of the endcell strap connectors may be similarly anchored by the container; seeFIG. 6, which also shows the end cell strap connector extending to theexterior of the container to serve as a terminal.

Another feature which may easily and advantageously be employed withthis invention is the use of slots in the strap connectors to receivethe lugs from the electrodes. Since it is common to include one morenegative electrode than positive electrode in each stack, an anti-cellreversal feature may be built into the container simply by providing theexact number of slots needed in each strap. For example, a stackconsisting of seven negative electrodes and six positive electrodescannot be installed backwards if each negative connecting strap hasexactly seven slots while each positive strap has exactly six slots.This feature is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Where such straps areconnected to the stacks in conventional element assembly machines, it isstill possible to insert the element in a cell compartment backwardsunless some other anti-reversal feature is used. Previous methods ofconstructing anti-cell reversalfeatures in individual cell compartmentshave required additional metal in one or both of the strap connectorsand/or additional container material; these extra material costs are notneeded with the construction shown with this invention. I

If a heat technique is used to connect the electrodes and the connectingstraps, some provision may be required to prevent the molten metal fromflowing errantly onto the plates and separators. One way to solve thisproblem isto use strap connectors having high sides so that the strapconnectors themselves act as dams or reservoirs for the molten metal,but this is relatively expensive due to the high cost of the metal.Another solution is illustrated in FIG. 8 where a channel is shownmolded beneath and around the sides of the strap connector to serve asreservoirs for the molten metal. If any kind'of shield is placed overthe top of the stack to prevent damage by heat (see the slotted heatprotectors 'of US. Pat. No. 3,350,237 and British Patent 988,423) or byexternal objects subsequently placed into the constructed battery, theshield may have an impression which serves to retain the molten metal.

For simplicity the mating surfaces of the upper and lower portions ofthe container are shown in FIG. 1 as being plane surfaces. It should beunderstood that other contours and possible flanges extending externallyor internally from the upper and/or lower portions of the container maybe preferable with certain materials and sealing techniques. Suchconstructions are all within the present invention.

From the discussion above, the application of this invention to singlecell batteries is easy to visualize. The only strap connectors involved,of course, are not of the intercell type but are like the end cell strapconnectors used in multicell batteries. The two strap connectors mayoptionally extend through the walls of the upper portion of thecontainer to serve as external terminals. The cover may be separatefrom, or integrally constructed with, the upper portion of thecontainer.

I claim:

1. A portion of a battery container comprising a. a plurality ofexterior walls defining an enclosed space and having at least onepartition wall dividing the enclosed space into a plurality of cellcompartments, each cell compartment being open at both the top andbottom; and,

b. an electrically conductive intercell strap connector around which thepartition wall is molded, the intercell strap connector extendingsubstantially across the cell compartments on the opposite sides of thepartition so that its ends may serve as strap connectors for electrodes,the walls of the container being molded around the ends of the intercellstrap connector to improve the vibration resistance of the ends of theintercell strap connector.

2. The battery container portion of claim 1 in which projections whichare integrally molded with the walls extend outward from the walls andare molded around the ends of the intercell strap connectors.

3. The battery container portion of claim 1 in which the ends of theintercell strap connector have a plurality of slots in them to receivethe lugs of battery electrodes.

4. The battery container portion of claim 3 in which one end of theintercell strap connector has a greater number of slots than the otherend of the intercell strap connector to provide an anti-cell reversalfeature.

5. The battery container portion of claim 2 in which the ends of theintercell strap connector have a plurality of slots in them to receivethe lugs of battery electrodes.

6. The battery contaniner portion of claim 5 in which one end of theintercell strap connector has a greater number of slots than the otherend of the intercell strap connector to provide an anti-cell reversalfeature.

7. The battery container portion of claim 1 in which a molded channelsurrounds the bottom and sides of each end of the intercell strapconnector, the molded channels being integrally molded with the batterycontainer portion.

8. The battery container portion of claim 7 in which the ends of theintercell strap connector have a plurality of slots in them to receivethe lugs of battery electrodes and in which the surrounding moldedchannels have a plurality ofslots which are in alignment with those ofthe intercell strap. connector which they surround. a

9. The battery container portion of claim 8 in which one end of theintercell strap connector and its surrounding molded channel have agreater number of slots than the other end of the intercell strapconnector and its surrounding molded channel.

10. The battery container portion of claim 2 in which the projectionsextend across the cell compartments to provide molded channels whichsurround the bottom and sides of each end of the intercell strapconnector.

11. The battery container portion of claim 10 in which the ends of theintercell strap connector have a plurality of slots in them to receivethe lugs of battery electrodes and in which the surrounding moldedchannels have a plurality of slots which are in alignement with those ofthe intercell strap connectors which they surround.

12. The battery container portion of claim 11 in which one end of theintercell strap connector and its surrounding molded channel have agreater number of slots than the other end of the intercell strapconnector and its surrounding molded channel.

2. The battery container portion of claim 1 in which projections whichare integrally molded with the walls extend outward from the walls andare molded around the ends of the intercell strap connectors.
 3. Thebattery container portion of claim 1 in which the ends of the intercellstrap connector have a plurality of slots in them to receive the lugs ofbattery electrodes.
 4. The battery container portion of claim 3 in whichone end of the intercell strap connector has a greater number of slotsthan the other end of the intercell strap connector to provide ananti-cell reversal feature.
 5. The battery container portion of claim 2in which the ends of the intercell strap connector have a plurality ofslots in them to receive the lugs of battery electrodes.
 6. The batterycontaniner portion of claim 5 in which one end of the intercell strapconnector has a greater number of slots than the other end Of theintercell strap connector to provide an anti-cell reversal feature. 7.The battery container portion of claim 1 in which a molded channelsurrounds the bottom and sides of each end of the intercell strapconnector, the molded channels being integrally molded with the batterycontainer portion.
 8. The battery container portion of claim 7 in whichthe ends of the intercell strap connector have a plurality of slots inthem to receive the lugs of battery electrodes and in which thesurrounding molded channels have a plurality of slots which are inalignment with those of the intercell strap connector which theysurround.
 9. The battery container portion of claim 8 in which one endof the intercell strap connector and its surrounding molded channel havea greater number of slots than the other end of the intercell strapconnector and its surrounding molded channel.
 10. The battery containerportion of claim 2 in which the projections extend across the cellcompartments to provide molded channels which surround the bottom andsides of each end of the intercell strap connector.
 11. The batterycontainer portion of claim 10 in which the ends of the intercell strapconnector have a plurality of slots in them to receive the lugs ofbattery electrodes and in which the surrounding molded channels have aplurality of slots which are in alignement with those of the intercellstrap connectors which they surround.
 12. The battery container portionof claim 11 in which one end of the intercell strap connector and itssurrounding molded channel have a greater number of slots than the otherend of the intercell strap connector and its surrounding molded channel.